REVIEW: Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh BardugoPublished August 28th 2017 by Random House Children's BooksRead from October 30 to October 32, 2017Series: DC Icons #1Goodreads // Book Depository

5 stars

So this is my most fangirl-like review ever, I think, and I decided that I’d leave it mostly in its original form, with repetition and incoherent sentences and too little punctuation and more. And I will not care that this isn’t how I usually do things or that it doesn’t actually tell you specific things about the characters or gives a synopsis of the plot. This was just me throwing up my feelings on my keyboard. If you’re going to read this (the review, I mean, obviously you should read the book), good luck, and enjoy the ride. It’s wild

(apparently, when I say review to come soon I mean next week, whoops)

I have read several great books lately with ratings that stranded on 4.5 and I was beginning to wonder if I was being too picky about things. And then I read this book and it was immediately clear that this was, no doubt, a five-star book, and I was probably not being too picky if none of those other (definitely great) books could elicit such a response.

I loved it so much. It reminded me A LOT of Rick Riordan’s books, and the awesome thing is I don’t even have to add “but diverse” because Riordan’s books are diverse too! This one was a bit older and had more social commentary in it, and I loved it so much. I do know the PJ style with influences from myths and half-gods or not quite fully humans is not for everyone, but honestly, I don’t see why not it’s so greattttttttt. PJ but with epic girls, yes!

This was one of the first books I wanted to actively put tabs in and I used so many! Tons of funny moments, great feminism or beautiful quotes. I still do happy sighs whenever I think about it and it’s definitely on my favourites list. There were so many awesome things, I wish the movie was about this book, or after this book so I could continue my journey with these wonderful characters I’m so in love

Why is nobody more enthusiastic about this? Why are you all sleeping on this? It has so much rep and yesss

Badass female characters galore! Like, the two POV’s AND another girl still! Aaaah so many and so different and so awesome and all so cool. Strong female characters and friendship! Thank you, Leigh, for showing females can be badass in every way, no matter our looks, strengths or talents.

Did I mention it made me think of Percy Jackson? The more the book went on, the more I thought that, especially during the last fight, and a certain character that reminded me a bit too much of Luke. Anyway, I adore PJ, so this was only a good thing.

Friends! Friends! Friends! This is so friendship focused! Especially friendship between girls! Yes empowerment! Sticking up for one another! Diverse kids saving the world and each other, yes! Character development yes!

So many awesome characters! I love how this book wasn’t the typical superhero must mean it’s solely focused on the superhero thing. Maybe because Diana wasn’t really Wonderwoman yet, either way, this worked incredibly well and I’m so happy with this origin story
Also, so many fucking plot twists! Honestly, this book kept throwing me and I loved it

I’m so hype, stop sleeping on this book I can’t even form articulate sentences anymore (I don’t really know why, I mean, it was great and I love it but I’m also somewhat confused as to why I lose my coherent speech over this but I’m just going to go with it whatever)

Feminism! I’m just repeating myself but whatever! Did you already decide to read this? Bc im just going to be here repeating myself forever, might as well give in now

Slow? Did I feel like it was slow? Some people thought that, but I don’t think so, actually? The pace did really pick up towards the end, so in comparison, the start/first half was slow but that didn’t bother me at all and I finished this book so fast (I did, right? – I checked, I did)
Maybe this didn’t feel slow to me because I didn’t go in it expecting an action-packed superhero story? Great decision on my part, because it was so much more and the book didn’t need to live up to any expectations

I was just thinking that the banter and the cast gave some Six of Crow vibes and made me miss the Dregs. Turns out I’d momentarily forgotten we’re talking about the same author here. #typical but anyway! Yes! Awesomeness and a great crew

So, I think the main takeaways (other than read this book it's fantastic and I suddenly can’t write decent reviews for the life of me anymore) are: this is not your typical superhero story, both regarding the characters seeing as Diana is not the only POV, and regarding the action. I thought that only made it better because we got to see many different cool people who all got their time to shine, but you do you!
(tbh, it would be cool to see like a background story of this story, with more about the Amazons and the island and more mythology etc, but it was cool this book wasn’t that! I’m just greedy and want that too :D)

I had three small issues: I wish the girl loving character would have gotten a label, there was one moment of girl hate (why?), and no mention of gender beyond the binary when talking about the orientation of the Amazons (but: inclusion of aro/ace people, great!)

Rep: Alia and Jason are biracial and black, Nim is fat, Indian and loves ladies, I think Theo is Brazilian (he speaks Portuguese), Diana is an Amazon and I have no idea what that means, and everyone is fucking awesome.

Note that this review doesn’t include quotes because if I started doing that I’d never stop but please please believe that there are enough awesome moments to fill a book (huh, exactly what happened, who’d have thought)